valerie_cherishFirst of all, it was already implied looks are subjective in my statement. Second there are a lot of brands with "quality" bags for half of the price. Besides tanning methods and leather quality, how does one compare a premium tannery's leather from America to Europe? There isn't a universal scale. Like it or not, most designer brands are selling reputation, the price of their goods is way over the quality they offer. And please, make an informed argument before calling people out.
ZZ_UPennIndeed, Valerie just assumed I was clueless because of my quasi-gangsta comment. (I don't blame her :D) Although I'm really not a fan of people putting out a fusillade of "quality" justifications as soon as they see the price tag. Would I pay 2k for a name brand bag when I can get a similar niche brand bag for 500? Hell NO. A prime example of this is (see below) http://www.linjer.co/, which just finished their 2nd Kickstarter campaign which I backed. Google reviews on them from the styleforums, there's a couple. @IanAnderson is a fan too, if I recall correctly. If they are on MD, I'd buy their laptop bag in a heartbeat compared to this bag here. And yes, it is possible that this bag is of higher quality compared to Linjer's, but Linjer's is close to half the price (not retail, I'm talking about KS or MD drop price). Now, one would really be a fool to believe that the quality of this bag is 2x times as Linjer's.
HouseYeah, definitely a fan of Linjer. I have one of their briefcases and know the founders well.
I've been in talks with them about working with us, but to be honest, I'm actually concerned because their bags are made in China (I have no problem with this, as the quality is very solid). A lot of members here like to beat up on MIC products even when it's wholly undeserved, which is frustrating. If things are made in the USA, they're too expensive, but if they're less expensive they are 'crappy MIC sweatshop junk' (not saying you specifically are saying this, of course, @House!). Anyway, these are just the things that I wonder about before I decide if we're gonna work with a brand or not. I'm a big fan of their products, but I'm concerned that some less informed users would beat up on them just because of the bag's provenance.
Anyway, just food for thought. Thanks for the comment!
IanAndersonAgreed, I think as I've said before I'm a bit ambivalent of the origin of manufacturing. Because, a lot of times bag brands are especially keen to market their skill, as in "fine Italian Craftsmanship", "Brilliant British Engineering" and yet.....Made in China just doesn't make any sense in the way that it directly goes against their marketing material and really sends suspicion up the spine. Despite, some of us (me included) believe that there are good shops in China that makes amazing products. (Not many, but they do exist if you find the right owner with passion to quality rather than mass produced quantity). I think on the "Description" page, you should directly link to several styleforum posts and maybe let some members do a pre-drop review of the product to tame the skeptics if this drop were to happen. An even more safe approach is wait till the 2nd Kickstarter delivers in January 2016 and let the good comments flush in. (Might need to coordinate with them to make comments public) If hundreds of individual comments on KS praising the quality doesn't eviscerate the conjecture of value derived from the bag's provenance then I don't know what will. On the other hand, if the project turns out to be a disaster, then you won't drop it. Win-win.
IanAnderson{A lot of members here like to beat up on MIC products even when it's wholly undeserved, which is frustrating. If things are made in the USA, they're too expensive, but if they're less expensive they are 'crappy MIC sweatshop junk'}
That's what I've been thinking while this drop is on and not a single person has joined.